TIMELINE OF A CRISIS
First of all, my heartfelt sympathies are offered to the families of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, two other as-yet unidentified American embassy officers, and ten Libyan security personnel who lost their lives in the attack by terrorists in Benghazi. The contributions of these fine men, and their ultimate sacrifice for duty and the cause they believe in, is to be unequivocably honored.
The following facts and information are offered to better understand the political response related to this tragedy.
Shortly prior to Noon EDT, 9/11/2012, more than 6 hours before the US Embassy compound perimeter was breached, the US Embassy in Cairo issued the following statement:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims -- as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.
Around 6 PM EDT, 9/11/2012, the US Embassy in Cairo tweeted the following:
This morning's condemnation (issued before the protest began) still stands. As does our condemnation of the breach of the Embassy.
10:09 PM EDT, 9/11/2012, Romney issued the following statement which was released at 10:25 PM EDT:
I'm outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It's disgraceful that the Obama Administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.
10:10 PM EDT, 9/11/2012, an Obama administration official stated:
The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government.
10:14 PM EDT, 9/11/2012, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued the following statement:
I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on our mission in Benghazi today. As we work to secure our personnel and facilities, we have confirmed that one of our State Department officers was killed. We are heartbroken by this terrible loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who have suffered in this attack.
This evening, I called Libyan President Magariaf to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya. President Magariaf expressed his condemnation and condolences and pledged his government's full cooperation.
Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any justification for violent acts of this kind.
In light of the events of today, the United States government is working with partner countries around the world to protect our personnel, our missions, and American citizens worldwide.
12:01 AM EDT, 9/12/2012, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus tweeted:
Obama sympathizes with attackers in Egypt. Sad and pathetic.
12:09 AM EDT, 9/12/2012, Obama campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt stated:
We are shocked that, at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Governor Romney would choose to launch a political attack.
6:06 AM EDT, 9/12/2012, The Associated Press reported:
Libyan officials say U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other embassy staffers were killed at the Benghazi (Libya) consulate, which was under attack by a mob with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
10:20 AM EDT, 9/12/2012, Romney said, in part, the following at a televised press conference:
It's their administration (referring to the embassy in Cairo), their administration spoke. The president takes responsibility not just for the words that come from his mouth but also from the words of his ambassadors, from his administration, from his embassies, from his State Department. They clearly sent mixed messages to the world. The statement that came from the administration -- and the embassy is the administration -- the statement that came from the administration (referring to the original Cairo Embassy statement issued before the attacks occurred)was a statement which is akin to apology. And I think was a severe miscalculation.I think it’s a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values.
At the press conference Romney was asked whether his criticism of the administration was "too soon." Romney responded:
I don't think that we ever hesitate when we see something which is a violation of our principles.
10:35 AM EDT, 9/12/2012, President Obama held a televised press conference during which:
He offered sympathy and praise for the slain foreign services officers, and did not refer to anything Romney, or anyone else, previously said on the issue.
6:07 PM EDT, 9/12/2012, during an interview at the White House with correspondent Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes, President Obama said:
There's a broader lesson to be learned here. And I -- you know, Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later. And as president, one of the things I've learned is you can't do that. That, you know, it's important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts. And that you've thought through the ramifications before you make 'em.>
Asked if Romney's attacks were irresponsible, the president replied, "I'll let the American people judge that."
These are the facts...you may decide who reacted to these events in a Presidential manner.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Why Do Christians Imagine They Are Victims?
There are 49.8 million public school students in 98,800 public schools taught by 3.3 million Government employees, also known as teachers, in the United States. There has never been a documented case in modern times of a single one of these 49.8 million students ever being stopped from praying before they eat their lunch, ever being stopped from praying before they take a test, ever being stopped from praying for any reason as long as they are not creating a disruption. In fact, students pray in public schools millions and millions of times every day.
What is not allowed is for the Government to decide what is in those prayers.
What is not allowed is for the Government to lead your children in those prayers.
What is not allowed is for the Government to force students to recite Protestant prayers, or Catholic prayers, or Jewish prayers, or Muslim prayers, or Hindu prayers.
Why would anyone want the Government to decide who your children pray to or what your children say in their prayers? Can you imagine the outcry if that actually ever happened?
Apparently, if many in the Republican Party have their way, that is exactly what would happen every day in America. Government employees would decide what prayers your children would use and those same Government employees would lead your children in those prayers. I am sure they think this is a great idea because they just figure that those prayers will be "Christian" prayers.
Can you imagine what would happen the first time a child came home and said, "Hey Dad, the teacher made us recite a Muslim prayer today. It sounded interesting. Will you take me to the mosque on Friday?" or "Guess what we did at school today, Mom. The teacher has us chant Hindu mantras. It was cool, I don't want to go to church anymore."
They think it is okay because they assume that the Government will only force "Christian" prayers on those 49.8 million children, that the Government will only impose "Christianity" and nothing else on every one of those 49.8 million public school students.
Why would any parent want a Government employee to be involved in their child's religious upbringing? Isn't that what the church is for..isn't that what the parents themselves are for?
Fox News and other "conservative" media outlets fan the flames, spread the ignorance and reinforce the delusion. Excerpts from a recent Fox News article reflect this:
"The threat of a lawsuit from a Wisconsin-based organization has prompted a Georgia school district to ban school sanctioned prayer before sports games.
Despite the ban, hundreds turned out Friday night to pray together before the Haralson County High School football team took the field in its season opener.
'Everybody has their rights, but so do I, and it's not right for one person to say that I can't pray,' said Connie Locklear who helped organize the pro-prayer."
Guess what? None of the "hundreds" who prayed were arrested, thrown in jail, or otherwise persecuted. No one tried to stop "Connie Locklear" or anyone else from praying.
What is it in the brains of these people that causes them to take a set of facts, and completely twist those facts 180 degrees into something that defies reality?
Why do "Christians" claim they are persecuted simply because they are not allowed to impose their religious beliefs on others?
I am asking because I have no idea whatsoever!
What is not allowed is for the Government to decide what is in those prayers.
What is not allowed is for the Government to lead your children in those prayers.
What is not allowed is for the Government to force students to recite Protestant prayers, or Catholic prayers, or Jewish prayers, or Muslim prayers, or Hindu prayers.
Why would anyone want the Government to decide who your children pray to or what your children say in their prayers? Can you imagine the outcry if that actually ever happened?
Apparently, if many in the Republican Party have their way, that is exactly what would happen every day in America. Government employees would decide what prayers your children would use and those same Government employees would lead your children in those prayers. I am sure they think this is a great idea because they just figure that those prayers will be "Christian" prayers.
Can you imagine what would happen the first time a child came home and said, "Hey Dad, the teacher made us recite a Muslim prayer today. It sounded interesting. Will you take me to the mosque on Friday?" or "Guess what we did at school today, Mom. The teacher has us chant Hindu mantras. It was cool, I don't want to go to church anymore."
They think it is okay because they assume that the Government will only force "Christian" prayers on those 49.8 million children, that the Government will only impose "Christianity" and nothing else on every one of those 49.8 million public school students.
Why would any parent want a Government employee to be involved in their child's religious upbringing? Isn't that what the church is for..isn't that what the parents themselves are for?
Fox News and other "conservative" media outlets fan the flames, spread the ignorance and reinforce the delusion. Excerpts from a recent Fox News article reflect this:
"The threat of a lawsuit from a Wisconsin-based organization has prompted a Georgia school district to ban school sanctioned prayer before sports games.
Despite the ban, hundreds turned out Friday night to pray together before the Haralson County High School football team took the field in its season opener.
'Everybody has their rights, but so do I, and it's not right for one person to say that I can't pray,' said Connie Locklear who helped organize the pro-prayer."
Guess what? None of the "hundreds" who prayed were arrested, thrown in jail, or otherwise persecuted. No one tried to stop "Connie Locklear" or anyone else from praying.
What is it in the brains of these people that causes them to take a set of facts, and completely twist those facts 180 degrees into something that defies reality?
Why do "Christians" claim they are persecuted simply because they are not allowed to impose their religious beliefs on others?
I am asking because I have no idea whatsoever!
I Was Born in 1954...or Was It 1854?
I was born on January 23, 1954 in Tampa, Florida.
When I was born, "under God" was not part of the Pledge of Allegiance. Those two words were included in the Pledge by an Act of Congress on June 14, 1954. So it was not part of our heritage, it was part of the national hysteria regarding the "Red Scare" that communists were taking over America. I bet you didn't know that.
When I was born, the Confederate flag was not part of the Georgia state flag. It was added to the Georgia flag in 1956. So it was not part of "Southern heritage," it was part of Southern reaction to integration. I bet you didn't know that either.
I grew up in Tampa, Florida. Tampa is not Selma or Dothan...Tampa is not the Deep South. Tampa is a Midwestern city in a Southern state. When I was in elementary school, none of my classmates had southern accents.
Yet, when I was in 1st grade in public school, when Kennedy was President, we memorized the Holy Bible, but didn't have any black classmates. I never had an African-American classmate until 8th grade. Why? Because our schools were segregated by race. The African-American kids in Tampa were bused, sometimes 2-3 hours a day, more than 50 miles one way, to all-black schools...even if they lived in my neighborhood. Finally, in 1968, I had black classmates, a few. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that the buses went the "other direction" and brought African-American kids out of their neighborhoods to our schools resulting in a black student population of about 10%.
When I was a kid, the public beaches in Tampa were segregated by law. I am talking about the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, not the Ben T. Davis Beach that came later on the south side. I actually made a black friend somehow when I was 7 years old while playing there in the polluted waters of Old Tampa Bay. By the way, it was so polluted, mostly from the good old sewage that was flowing into the upper part of the Bay, that we used to slip on the slime and muck on the bottom where there should have been sand and rarely saw a living thing in the water. (Thanks to those pesky environmentalists, today the water is cleaner, the slime and muck has been replaced by sand and sea grass, and the trout and mullet have returned to the Bay). Well, my black friend and I had to play on the "line" between the "white" and "black" beaches. I never understood it, but my parents unhappily assured us we would "get in trouble" if either of us crossed that line.
The biggest grocery store in Tampa where we shopped when I was a kid was located on Florida Avenue and Limebaugh, in the Forest Hills neighborhood. The store had only one water fountain in the back corner with, you guessed it, a "Whites Only" sign on the wall above it. My poor mother was in great distress when she had to explain that sign to me! I asked her what the "negroes" did if they were thirsty. She said she didn't know.
You know, I am only 58 years old, but sometimes I feel like I am 158 years old because it is so hard to believe that these are the rules and laws society abided by in Tampa just a few decades ago.
When I was born, "under God" was not part of the Pledge of Allegiance. Those two words were included in the Pledge by an Act of Congress on June 14, 1954. So it was not part of our heritage, it was part of the national hysteria regarding the "Red Scare" that communists were taking over America. I bet you didn't know that.
When I was born, the Confederate flag was not part of the Georgia state flag. It was added to the Georgia flag in 1956. So it was not part of "Southern heritage," it was part of Southern reaction to integration. I bet you didn't know that either.
I grew up in Tampa, Florida. Tampa is not Selma or Dothan...Tampa is not the Deep South. Tampa is a Midwestern city in a Southern state. When I was in elementary school, none of my classmates had southern accents.
Yet, when I was in 1st grade in public school, when Kennedy was President, we memorized the Holy Bible, but didn't have any black classmates. I never had an African-American classmate until 8th grade. Why? Because our schools were segregated by race. The African-American kids in Tampa were bused, sometimes 2-3 hours a day, more than 50 miles one way, to all-black schools...even if they lived in my neighborhood. Finally, in 1968, I had black classmates, a few. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that the buses went the "other direction" and brought African-American kids out of their neighborhoods to our schools resulting in a black student population of about 10%.
When I was a kid, the public beaches in Tampa were segregated by law. I am talking about the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway, not the Ben T. Davis Beach that came later on the south side. I actually made a black friend somehow when I was 7 years old while playing there in the polluted waters of Old Tampa Bay. By the way, it was so polluted, mostly from the good old sewage that was flowing into the upper part of the Bay, that we used to slip on the slime and muck on the bottom where there should have been sand and rarely saw a living thing in the water. (Thanks to those pesky environmentalists, today the water is cleaner, the slime and muck has been replaced by sand and sea grass, and the trout and mullet have returned to the Bay). Well, my black friend and I had to play on the "line" between the "white" and "black" beaches. I never understood it, but my parents unhappily assured us we would "get in trouble" if either of us crossed that line.
The biggest grocery store in Tampa where we shopped when I was a kid was located on Florida Avenue and Limebaugh, in the Forest Hills neighborhood. The store had only one water fountain in the back corner with, you guessed it, a "Whites Only" sign on the wall above it. My poor mother was in great distress when she had to explain that sign to me! I asked her what the "negroes" did if they were thirsty. She said she didn't know.
You know, I am only 58 years old, but sometimes I feel like I am 158 years old because it is so hard to believe that these are the rules and laws society abided by in Tampa just a few decades ago.
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